List of Freedom fighters of Goa Liberation - from 1878 till 1961

Previous blog- How Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule 

Francisco Luis Gomes 

Francisco Luis Gomes, was a liberal who made it his life's mission to pursue the cause of freedom and represented Goa till his death.

Francisco Luis Gomes

"I was born in India, the cradle of poetry, philosophy and history. I belonged to that race, which wrote the Mahabharata and invented Chess - two concepts that bear within them, the Eternal and the Infinite. 

Francisco Luis Gomes- 5th Jan 1861.

Luis de Menezes Braganza (1878 -1938)

Luis de Menezes Braganza was a revolutionary with a difference. He was born in a Hindu Dessai (Brahmin) family at Chandor, but now converted to Christianity. By virtue of being the grandson of a wealthy landlord, Luis had inherited vast property and was thus well-to-do. He was himself well-educated, having completed his studies from Rachol Seminary and Panjim's Lyceum school. Being a voracious reader he kept himself abreast with the happenings around the world. 

Luis de Menezes Braganza (1878 - 1938)

Despite being born to the aristocratic household, he was a nationalist by heart and ironical as it may seem he wanted Goa to be liberated from Portuguese rule and preferred his mother tongue Konkani above as the official Portuguese language instead.

He inspired a generation through the power of his pen. During his lifetime, he had witnessed 3 different forms of Portuguese government- the liberal constitutional monarchy, Republic and Salazar's dictatorial rule. He stressed for a platform whereby educated and professional goans could discuss the issues that plagued Goa. 

Even though he was raised in a converted Roman Catholic household, he himself had an agnostic bent of mind.

Books he wrote 

Comunidades and the Cult 1914

The Castes 1915

India and her Problems

The House of Menezes-Braganza, Chandor is open for public viewing. Read more… 

The house is divided into two sections, both equally beautiful. and there is an extensive library of Dr Luís de Menezes Bragança with some great collections of books.

Tristão de Bragança Cunha

Tristão de Bragança Cunha popularly known as the father of Goan Nationalism. In 1926, he founded the Goa Congress Committee which was affiliated to the Indian National Congress at its Calcutta session. In 1946, he participated in a meeting in Margao for which he was arrested and detained in Aguada jail. 

Photos of TB Cunha, goan freedom fighter

He was then tried and sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment and deported to Peniche fort in Lisbon. He was released after 2 years under Amnesty. On his return, he organised the Goa Action Committee in Bombay and started writing in his periodical 'Azad Goem' until his death (26 Sept 1958).

Abbé Faria

Abade José Custodiö de Faria hailed from Candolim Goa. He was one of the pioneers of Hypnotism. In the early 19th century he introduced Oriental Hypnosis to Paris and the western world. Abbé Faria played an important role during the Pinto Uprising of 1787. 

Abbé Faria statue can be seen near the Old Secretariat (AdilShah's palace) in Panjim

Picture gallery of goan freedom fighters

1- Maria Joaquina Calista Araujo

Born at village Siolim in Bardez, she was member of NCG and was arrested on 30th Jan 1947 for distributing Nationalist pamphlets. She was imprisoned at Reis Magos fort jail on 15th Feb 1947, tried by *TMT and sentenced to 2½ month in 1951.

2- Shashikala Manguesh Hodarkar Almeida

From Ponda, DOB 23 June 1931, married to a freedom fighter Anastacio Almeida and inspired by Sidhutai Deshpande. She was the member of *NCG and offered Satyagraha alongwith her associates at Panaji on 25 Nov 1954. Sadly she had to abandon it as police arrived at her house in Madgaon and began harrassing her family members with the intent of eliciting information. She offered for another Satyagraha on 15th Feb 1955 alongwith Vilasini Prabhu by holding the nationalist flog, posters and pamphlets and shouting the slogan 'Jai Hind'.

She was arrested and sentenced to 6 years imprisonment and finally released in March 1958. She was honoured by Govt of Goa, Daman and Diu on 18th June 1986.

NCG- National Congress (Goa)

was a political group in Goa to progress the liberation movement, after Ram Manohar Lohia's 18th June 1946 Satyagraha.

TMT- Tribunal Military Trial

was a military court set up by the Portuguese govt in Goa to try political prisoners

3- Gurunath Gangadhar Asnottikar 

Born at Anotti, a village in Karwar he was a member of the NCG and offered Satyagraha under the leadership of Alfred Afonso at Terechol (a fort in North Goa) on 15 Aug 1954. For this he was arrested and tried by TMT and imprisoned at Altinho, Reis Magos fort and Aguada fort jail. He was later released in May 1958.

4- Dattaram Ragoba Bugde 

Hails from village Parsem. He was a member of the NCG who offered Satyagraha at Parcem, Pernem on 15 Aug 1954 and was arrested on the same day.

 

(Above pic) A solitary confinement cell at Reis Magos fort jail

5- Naguesh Karmali

Born at village Kakoda Quepem, he created a band of workers to work for the movement and was arrested on 15 Sept 1954 in Rivona while attempting large scale preparations for Terekhol Day in Goa on 16 Sept 1954. He was kept in police custody for 8 months, then tried and jailed for 8 years RI (Rigorous imprisonment) and suspension of political rights for 15 years and 2 years detention as a security measure. He spent his time in Reis Magos fort jail and later shifted to Aguada jail till he was released on 17 May 1959.

6- Mark Agostinho Fernandes 

Interestingly Mark was born in Quetta Balochistan. He joined the NCG and worked under the guidance of Peter Alvares and was also a member of the Executive Committee for the NCG in 1952. He volunteered to undertake Satyagraha on 15 Aug 1954. He was tried and arrested by the TMT on 18 April 1955, sentenced to 8 years RI and suspension of political rights for 15 years and 2 years detention as a security measure. He was initially detained at Aguada jail and later shifted to Reis Magos jail on 3 June 1955.

7- Datta Shiva Naik Desai 

Born at village Ponsulem Cancona, he was member of NCG from 1948- 1950. He was the member of the AGD, worked under the leadership of Peter Alvares, was detained in Aguada jail for 11 months, was re-arrested and then imprisoned at Reis Magos fort jail.

 

8- Namdev Shankar Harmalkar 

Born at village Tuem in Pernem, he was a member of the GPP. He participated in underground Nationalist activities; was arrested in  Sept 1954. He was imprisoned at Reis Magos and Aguada jails. On 11 Jan 1958 he attempted a daring escape which was successful and thus reached the India border.

9- Laxman Damodar Joshi 

Born at village Dhavem Satari, he took out a morcha from Dhavem to Valpoi, but was arrested on the way to Sanvordem. He was tried by the TMT and in June 1955, he was sentenced to 5 years RI at Aguada and Reis Magos fort jails and was finally released on 10 Jan 1958.

10- Dinkar Govind Thali

Born at village Siolim Bardez, he was a member of the NCG. He offered Satyagraha on 15 Aug 1954 at Polem, Cancona for which he was arrested and sentenced by the TMT to 4 years RI and 2 years imprisonment as a security measure. He spent his jail term at Altinho, Reis Magos and Aguada jails.

11- Ramakant Ramchandra Naik (no pic)

Born at village Chapora Bardez, he was a member of NCG in 1946 at Mapusa for which he was arrested and imprisoned at Reis Magos fort jail.

12- Uttam Vishram Khandeparkar

Born at Sanquelim in Bicholim he too offered Satyagraha on 15 Aug 1954 for which he was tried by TMT and sentenced to 7 years RI plus 1 year simple imprisonment.

13- Rosario Fernandes (no pic)

Born at village Assolna in Salcete, he was a volunteer for the NCG in Bombay for 4 years. He had participated in the Dadra and Nagar Haveli liberation movement under the leadership of Vaman Desai.  He offered Satyagraha alongwith others at Taxem, Pernem on 15 Aug 1954 under the leadership of Mark Fernandes for which he was arrested and sentenced to 7 years jail at Reis Magos and Aguada jails.

14- Jaiwant Krishna Fulari (no pic)

Born at village Gangem Satari, he participated in Nationalist activities, distributed nationalist literature and also attended meetings. He was arrested by the police on 16 Nov 1954 in his shop at Madgaon. He was later tried by TMT, sentenced to 5 months imprisonment and finally released from Reis Magos jail in 1955.

15- Damodar Shripad Kelkar (no pic)

Born at village Nanoda in Bicholim, he was a member of NCG and inspired the agitation of 18 June 1946 launched by Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia. He offered Satyagraha on 28 Oct 1946 at Mapusa alongwith his associates and was severely beaten by the police. Later he was tried by the TMT and detained for about 2 months at Reis Magos jail.

16- Shriram Shantaram Parsekar (no pic)

Born at village Parcem, he offered Satyagraha on 15 Aug 1954  for which he was arrested and sentenced to 7 years RI and 2 years simple imprisonment at Reis Magos jail.

17- Shyamsundar Achyut Prabhu (no pic)

Born in Mapusa, he was member of NCG from 1954. He offered Satyagraha on 16 Aug 1954 for which he was tried and sentenced to 6 years RI and shifted to Reis Magos jail.

18- Sadanand Mahadev Gadekar

Born at Mapusa, he was member of NCG. He offered Satyagraha at Terekhol fort on 15 Aug 1954 under the leadership of Alfred Afonso and replaced the Portuguese flag with the tricolor for which he was arrested and severely beaten. From 15 Aug 1954 to Nov 1955 he was imprisoned at Altinho and Reis Magos fort jail.

19- Jaiwant Sinai Kunde

Born at village Cuncolim in Salcete, he was member of NCG from 1946. In the same year he printed the nationalist Marathi newspaper 'Andolan' published by Dr. Narayan Bhembre for 6 months, but was arrested in 1946 by the Quepem police and was detained in jail for 1 day. He joined the AGD in 1947 and was tried by TMT and sentenced to 26 years imprisonment. 

 

20- Laxman Bala Shirodkar 

Born at village Mayem in Bicholim, he was member of AGD and participated in the agitation launched by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. He also assisted AGD workers in underground activities. He was arrested in 1947.

 

21- Chandrakant Kerkar 

Born at village Querim in Ponda, he was a member of NCG from 1953 and participated in Nationalist activities at Belgaum in Aug 1954. He offered Satyagraha under the leadership of Anthony D'Souza on 15 Aug 1954 at Polem for which he was arrested and sentenced to 6 years imprisonment, fine for 1 year and suspension of political rights for 20 years.

22- Bhanudas Nilkanth (Polji) Desai 

Was born in a village named Parcem in Pernem. He hoisted the tricolors and affixed posters alongwith his colleagues on 18 June 1954 at important places in Panaji and offered Satyagraha alongwith Dada Bugde at Parcem on 15 Aug 1954. He was tried by TMT and on 17 Aug 1955 he was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. 

 

23- Ramkrishna Narsimha Mandrekar   

Born at village Sangolda in Bardez. He offered Satyagraha by entering Goa and was arrested and sentenced to 7 years RI and 2 years detention as a security measure. He was member of the Freedom fighters Organization.

24- Anthony (Tony) John De Souza 

He was born in Bombay, joined the seminary to become a Catholic priest, but instead studied the Vedas at Kashi. He was General Manager of the Lloyd's Bank Employees Federation and worked as the General Secretary of the NCG. He led the first batch of Satyagrahis into the Goa border  from Polem, Cancona on 15 Aug 1954. and was arrested at Mashem Canacona alongwith his associates. He was then imprisoned at Altinho Mental jail, later on at Aguada and Reis Magos fort jails serving RI for 28 years.

NCG- National Congress Goa 

25- Narayan Hari Naik 

He was member of NCG since 1946 and thereafter one of the founder member of Azad Gomantak Dal. He offered Satyagraha thrice in 1946. From April 1947 onwards he participated in a number of armed actions against the Portuguese including the armed raid at Mapusa 'Fazenda' and Banco Nacional Ultramarino. 

He was arrested on 7 Dec 1947 alongwith Prabhakar Sinari, Mukund Kamet Dhakarker and others. He was then subjected to inhuman torture in police custody, and thereafter detained at in Reis Magos and Aguada jails. TMT sentenced him to 29 years imprisonment, and deported him  to 'Forte Rocadas Angola' via Lisbon on 1st June 1952. He was finally released and repatriated in May 1962.

TMT- TRIBUNAL MILITARY TRIAL

Prabhakar Vithal Prabhu Sinari

26- Prabhakar Vithal Prabhu Sinari 

He joined the liberation movement in 1946. Thereby he took out processions,  rallies, affixed posters. He had been arrested thrice, but was let off either after beating him or shaving off his hair. He too was one of the founding members of Azad Gomantak Dal. He was arrested in connection with the raid on Fozando at Mapusa. For this he was tried by TMT, but being minor  he was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment. During his detention at Reis Magos fort he was tortured, subjected to inhuman treatment and solitary confinement as he failed to respect the Portuguese flag. 

Interesting facts- 

During his imprisonment Shri Prabhakar Sinari alongwith another inmate- Shri Simão of Royal Indian Navy tried to escape from the Reis Magos fort jail. 

There was a normal practice of throwing garbage out of the fort from the bastion. Taking advantage of this, one day  both freedom fighters jumped off the bastion in front of the Portuguese soldiers. They were both quite injured while running away from the jail campus and were chased, captured and then put into solitary confinement. 

27- Prafull V Sinai Priolkar 

Born at village Assonara, he was entrusted with the task of enrolling Satyagrahis from Ponda. He offered Satyagraha on 15 Aug 1954 at Mashem, Canacona. For this he was tried by TMT and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.

28- Narayan Atmaram Desai 

Born at village Poroscodem in Pednem, he was founder of the Borivli commune  in 1948, referred by Thane police as Desai Guruji's Borivli den. He was also a member of CPI, GPP and GVSS. Even more he wrote and published 2 plays 'Kangal Bharat' in 1945 and 'Krantivir'.  He also edited 'Salik' and 'Yugdeep' which brought the story of Goa's Liberation in all the sessions of the World Peace Council and organized Citizens Committee to help the Liberation Army.

29- Abbasbhai Dawoodbhai alias Damanwala Daman Vohra 

Born in district Daman, he was an active member of ADG. He was arrested by the Portuguese police as he was suspected to be associated with Goa Liberation movement, was 1 year under police custody at Diu and later on the Reis Magos jail.

30- Vasant Datta (Naique) Borkar 

Born at Ponda, he offered Satyagraha under the leadership of Alfred D'Souza on 15 Aug 1954 at Polem Cancona. For this he was arrested and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, 1 year confinement and his political rights were stopped for 15 years.

Note- This list of freedom fighters is available at the Reis Magos fort in Goa. For any additional information you may require regards Goa Liberation, etc is available at the Goa archives.

31- Laxmanrao Shripad Sardesai 

Born at village Savoi-Verem in Ponda, originally he was a member of the Gomantak Congress and later of the NCG since 1946. On 18 Oct 1946, he offered Satyagraha at Panaji old bus stand and was tried by TMT and sentenced to 1 month imprisonment. On 2 April 1955, he had been elected as the General Secretary of the working committee of the NCG led by Dr.Laura D'Souza faction.

 

He is the recipient of an award from Kala Academy and was the President of the Gomantak Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.

 

32- Manohar Trimbak Fatarpekar 

Born at Karwar, he offered Satyagraha on 15 Aug 1954 at Terekhol. For this he was tried by TMT and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment and 2 years detention under security measure. He served time at Reis Magos and Aguada jails.

 

33- Chandrakant alias Ramachandra Raghunath Hinde 

Born at Sanquelim, he was member of NCG and participated in Satyagraha of 15 Aug 1954. For this he was tried by TMT and sentenced to 1½ years RI and 5 years as security measure but was released after serving 4 years at Reis Magos jail.

 

34- Prabhakar Kashiram Ghodge 

Born in Madgaon, he was member of NCG and offered Satyagraha on 15 Aug 1954 at Terekhol. For this he was sentenced to 11 year imprisonment and fine or in lieu or another  2 years imprisonment.

35- Born at village Mhalbag, he was a member of NCG. He was arrested 16 Sep 1954, was tortured and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, but he still worked for the welfare of the people.

 

36- Rohidas Harichandra Naik

Born at village Bandora in Ponda (DOB- 14 Jan 1928), he was member of NCG and worked in Bombay under the guidance of Peter Alvares by affixing posters and distributing pamphlets. He also participated in meetings and helped the leaders in the rehabilitation of Satyagrahis who were released from jails, he enrolled members to NCG in 1956. Later he was elected as a member of the Executive Committee of the NCG. He was also elected twice as a member member of the Goa Legislative assembly in 1972. 

 

37- Anastacio Almeida Tomacinho Barnabe De

Born at Velim village in Salcete (DOB: 12 July 1929). He participated in the students movement launched by the PSP at Bombay in 1950. Thereafter while working in the Bank of Baroda, he participated in its trade union movement, joined the NCG in 1953, became Secretary of the NCG (Bombay branch) in 1954. He also organised the NCG branch in Calcutta alongwith Urselino Almeida and Felix Almeida. After 15 Aug 194 Satyagraha, he resigned his job at the bank and came down to Goa to continue his political activities in Goa.

38- Suryakant Vithal Thali

Born at village Anjuna in Bardez (DOB: 29 July 1929, son of Vithal Gopal Thali), he was member of NCG from 1946 onwards, participated in Nationalist activities, offered Satyagraha at Mapusa on 28 Oct 1946. For this he was arrested, imprisoned and released within 10 days   thereabouts. But he continued to participate in underground Nationalist activities  and got re-arrested at Colem railway station in Aug 1954 and detained in Panaji police custody for 22 days. Thereafter he worked under the guidance of Peter Alvares at Belgaum. He brought in posters from Belgaum and affixed them in Goa. He was instrumental in creating political consciousness among the youth and prepared them to participate in Satyagrahas. He was awarded Tamrapatra by the Central Government in 1972.

40- Ramkrishna Shuka Acharya

He is from and offered Satyagraha at Canacona under the leadership of Govind Narayan Prabhu Desai for which he was arrested in 1955 and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment and another 2 years in jail. He was finally released unconditionally after serving jail for 4½ years.

41- Dinanath Bandodkar Vasudev 

He was born in Varca village of Salcete (dob- 2 Aug 1935, son of Vasudev Surya Bandodkar), he joined NCG and offered Satyagraha at Madgaon railway gate on 6 April 1955 alongwith his associates. For this he was arrested, beaten and treated inhumanly, sent to Mental asylum at Panaji and detained there for 6 months and was later sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. He was released on 20 Aug 1959. He was awarded the Tamrapatra by the Central Government.

42- Bhalchandra alias Bala Keshav Kakodkar 

Born at Cacora in Quepem on 11 April 1927, he was an active member of NCG.  He was arrested first on 21 June 1946 under suspicion that he had written anti-Portuguese slogans all over Madgaon. For this he was flogged and released the next day. He later led a Morcha on 20 Oct 1946 at Madgaon and was canned mercilessly for that.  After receiving training at Seva Dal camp in Satarde, in his return to Goa he was arrested and taken to Panaji where he was beaten and produced before the court. He was detained for 5 days and thereafter sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and another 3 years jail term for distributing posters and tricolors secretly from the borders. He was finally released on 15 Aug 1959 under General Amnesty.

43- Sebastiaō alias Tony Fernandes

Born at village Sanvordem in Sanguem, he was member of AGD and worked towards bringing national awakening in Sanvordem Panchwadi and Quepem area withthe help of his friends. He attended AGD training camp at Kundal in Supa taluka alongwith his associates, participated in Nagar Haveli liberation movement in Aug 1954. He was leader of AGD's Castlerock office and later became its General Secretary. He participated in several armed actions within Sanguem and Quepem area under the guidance of Vishwanath Lawande. He placed a bomb on Colem-Sonauli railway route and had encounters with the Portuguese police. Post-liberation he was elected as MLA for Goa Daman and Diu from Sanguem constituency. 

44- Sudhatai Mahadev Joshi 

Born at village Priol in Ponda on 14 Jan 1919, she was member of NCG and was elected as it's President in 1955, organized the NCG Satyagrahis conference at Mapusa on 6 April 1955. She came clandestinely to Mapusa by crossing the border with Ambikabai Dandekar and got arrested on the same day. She was beaten, tried by TMT and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with fine for 2 years. Post-liberation she was awarded Tamrapatra by Central Government in 1974 and was honoured by the Govt of Goa Daman and Diu in 1982. 

 

45- Prabhakar Padmanabh Prabhu Bhembri 

Born in Karwar on 27 Aug 1927, he was active member of NCG. He participated in Prabhatferi which was taken out from Zambaulim to Quepem on 2 Oct 1946. He also clandestinely circulated pamphlets and posters for which he was arrested on 16 Sept 1954, persecuted by police and sentenced to 5 years RI and 1 year simple imprisonment. Post-liberation he was awarded the Tamrapatra by the Central Government. 

 

46- Shivram Lolienkar 

Born at village Pedem-Loliem in Canacona on 27 Sep 1914,he was member of NCG and offered Satyagraha at Loliem on 26 Jan 1955, for which he was arrested and severely beaten and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment with a fine or in lieu with 2 years imprisonment. He was released on 24 April 1958. In 1972 he was awarded Tamrapatra by Central Government. Further he was awarded posthumously by the Govt of Goa Daman and Diu in 1982.

47- Joshi Vishnu Pandurang

Born at Dhavem in Satari taluka on 20 July 1920, he was member of NCG since 1954 and worked under the leadership of Peter Alvares. He was arrested while crossing Goa border at Kankumbi and was released after 2 days. He fixed posters, held meetings, conducted propoganda, provided food and shelter to prominent non-goan freedom fighters  who came down to Goa. 

He offered Satyagraha on 26 Jan 1955 at Dhavem marching towards Valpoi. He was arrested on the way at Sonal and taken to Panaji police station, tried by TMT and sentenced to 8 years RI. Post-liberation he was awarded Tamrapatra by Central Government and further honoured by Govt of Goa Daman and Diu in 1981.

A pic of Portuguese soldiers arguing with Goan Nationalists

48- Anant Govind Abhyankar

Born at village Ambedem Tal Satari on 12 Aug 1932, he was member of NCG and brought awareness among the locals regarding the liberation movement, he enrolled volunteers who wished to offer Satyagraha, besides he also arrived for education among the masses. He himself offered Satyagraha on  26 Jan 1955 at Dhavem Satari, for which he was arrested and sentenced to 8 years RI. Post-liberation he was awarded  the Tamrapatra by Central Government in 1972 and also honoured by Govt of Goa Daman and Diu in 1981.

Thanks for reading. Do comment  on any names of these valiant Nationalists that I may have missed.